"With Paul, Let us proclaim the Gospel"

Posted: 6th July 2008

ព្រះសហគមន៏កាតូលិក - Eglise Catholique
ភូមិភាគភ្នំពេញ- Vicariate Apostolique de Phnom Penh


Yet when I preach the Gospel, I cannot boast,
For I am compelled to preach.
Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!
(1 cor 9,16)

Phnom Penh,16th June 2008



Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus.


To Proclaim the Gospel !

These words of Saint Paul can become our own words during this new pastoral year placed under the patronage of the Great Apostle. Pope Benedict has invited us this spiritual journey on the occasion of the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of the apostle.
Over the course of the year 2007-2008, we attempted to retell the story of Jesus in our own life. For the year 2008-2009 I invite the whole Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh to put on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation s a helmet (1th , 5,8) to revitalize our way of announcing the Gospel.
“With Paul, let us proclaim the Gospel”

In particular, I would like to invite the children and the young people to find a new energy to be witnesses to Christ who is all and is in all (Col 3, 11). I request that each parish community, each religious community and all the Catholic organization of our vicariate to support and stimulate the youth groups and the children’s groups so that they can discover the call of the Lord and become responsible for the Word of God that they have received. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up (1 the 5,11).
Various methods will be placed at our disposition to better know Paul
1. In September, an outline presentation of Paul will be sent to each community.
2. A short commentary of the second reading on Sunday will be sent to each community regularly during the year (September 2008 – June 2009).
3. We will read some letters of Paul together. Once a month, one short passage from a Pauline letter with guided notes will be sent to each community.
4. An edition of Paul’s letters will be published along with a video retracing Paul’s vocation and his three journeys.
5. We will organize a day of formation in Pauline theology in each pastoral centre of our Vicariate : Phnom Penh, Vietnamese Communities, Kompong Som, Takeo and Kampot . The program will be sent out later.
6. During the month of November 2008, we will send out a survey to evaluate our ways of proclaiming the Gospel.
7. On the 28 of June, we will close the pastoral year of Saint Paul by confirming the orientations to follow for the years to come so that our Vicariate can proclaim the Gospel with courage.. for “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it he power of God for the salvation of everyone who believe”(Rom 1,16)

These procedures are there to help us, but it is essential that each of us takes the time to reflect on the way that we proclaim Jesus crucified and risen both within our communities and outside of our communities.


We have also launched an ambitious program for the pastoral formation of young people in the vicariate, with sophal and Touer. We hope that it will empower our youth groups and children’s groups and encourage them to more dynamic witnesses of their own faith.

Let us pray that this year, placed under the patronage of Saint Paul, can be for us a missionary year during which we will be able to evaluate our ways of proclaiming the Gospel and renew these ways so the our little Church can be assign of peace and love in Cambodian society.


Be joyful always
Pray continually
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
(1th 5,16….)

I pray for each and every one of you, dear sisters and brothers.




Emile Destombes


Your Bishop